From early mornings to late nights, people rely on different sources for an energy boost. Two of the most popular options for an energy boost, coffee and energy drinks, often divide opinions. For this edition of “Double Take,” the pro-coffee position will be explained by Jolee Skinner and the pro-energy drink position will be explained by Cynthia Garcia.
Pro-Coffee position
Originally discovered in the ninth century in Ethiopia, coffee comes from the “coffea” plant which produces coffee cherries and inside are usually two beans. Coffee became an American staple during the American revolution after the infamous Boston tea party deemed English tea unpatriotic. Therefore, Americans started drinking coffee as a political statement. The mass production of coffee started in the early 1900s with brands like Folgers and Maxwell quickly becoming household names. The caffeine inside coffee is naturally produced by the coffea plant. The plant uses caffeine as a natural pesticide and increases energy when consumed. Unlike energy drinks, the caffeine isn’t added later but is a natural ingredient. When consuming caffeine from coffee, it blocks adenosine which is a “sleepy” chemical unleashed in your brain. Depending on how strong you like your coffee, caffeine is always present, even in some “decaf” drinks. Coffee can be broken down into categories depending on taste and preference. Choosing from light, medium or dark roast to the different brewing methods like expresso, drip, French press or pour over, the options are unlimited to curate your perfect coffee drink. Unlike all the sugars and artificial flavors in energy drinks, coffee already has its own natural flavor that has many health benefits as well. Coffee is high in antioxidants which helps fight inflammation. Coffee drinkers show lower rates of fatty liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Coffee can reduce the risk of diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Plain, black coffee doesn’t have any sugar, artificial flavors, preservatives, additives or dyes. Overall, coffee is a much better daily choice of drink and won’t severely affect your health. My personal coffee drink of choice is expresso with half-and-half plus some coconut sugar to add a little sweetness.
